BACK . . .
spring breeze blows
through the gathered friends and family
murmurs and glances shoot my way
as I watch as the casket is lowered
with the guard at my side
and the shackles on my wrists
back....
sitting on the edge of the bed
I watch your fitful sleep punctuated
with coughs from the lingering pneumonia
your waisted body pale in the moonlight
the sheets rumpled and wet with passion
I pick up the loaded revolver
back....
frantically and desperately the first time
slowly and lovingly the second time
tenderly and near exhaustion the last
holding you so that you might never leave
you ask me, "Tonight, Love, as I sleep,
please set me free."
back...
a weekend of beaches and parks
balloons and wildflowers
picnics of fried chicken
elegant candlelit dinners
love in a field under a new moon
morning delights in a feather bed
Monday morning, doctors office
T4 count nearly zero
back...
catch your eye,
flirt shamelessly
just so right, loose our breath,
can think of nothing else
why do you hold back,
are you that old fashioned?
you lower your head and
say three letters, HIV
back...
young and full of life
give anything a try
party and have fun!
you fall in love with a poet
so handsome and full of angst
in return for easing his pain
he offers to share his fix
back...
a vision in your prom dress
and your date in his rented tux
you enter you mother's room
to show the couple off
"Come here and let me kiss you"
the frail woman beckons both
bending over to recieve her blessing
you almost knock over
the morphine drip IV
back...
summer cottage near the lake
water skiing and sand castles
campfires and good friends
a small bird with a broken wing
you tended and kept in a cage
time to leave, back to the city
you want to bring the bird along
but Mother picks up the cage
lead you outside to the picnic tables
sets the cage down and just looks at you
your hand reaches out of its own accord
and opens the cage
